An Easy 20

49 (50 in three weeks)/Male/Eastern Pennsylvania/DW, DS and a great dog

3. When is your Loopiversary (date of your first blog on the Loop)?

May of 2012

4. How long have you been running?

I started running while in the Marine Corps, but gave it up after I tore my ACL playing basketball and had a tough rehab. I took it back up about four years ago and have stuck with it.

5. What is your favorite distance to race?

Probably 10K. The half is the longest distance I will race anymore. The marathon is just too much of a training commitment for me and just not that much fun.

6. Do you belong to a local running club?

I do not. Mostly because I don't want to slow anyone down or fall behind. It must be a stupid man thing.

7. Have you ever been to a Loopmeet or Loopfest?

I have not. I feel like I know alot of you, but would love to meet everyone in person.

8. Have you ever lost a toenail?

I have. Pittsburgh marathon about a million years ago. Lots of hills and poorly fitted shoes where the culprits. I have also lost a thumbnail in a car door mishap.

9. What is your favorite post-race treat?

Beer, then a beer and then another beer.

10. What one piece of running gear is your must-have item?

iPod. I love listening to music or sports talk to pass the time.

11. What socks do you wear when running?

Thorlos are my favorites. I only have one pair, so I don't get to wear them on every run. Maybe if I broke down an bought another pair or two......

12. How do your knees feel?

Fantastic. For a guy fast approaching fifty and two knee surgeries under my belt, I am surprised that I never have issues with my knees. Hips and shins are another story.

13. If you could go to any one running destination/event, where/what would you chose?

Probably Boston. It's the grandaddy of them all.

14. Hot or cold--which is worse to run in?

I HATE hot weather. In the winter, I can run outside no matter how cold it is, but the summer kills me. We get equal parts of crazy hot and crazy cold here, which is great if you like changing seasons, but not so great if you hate running in the heat.

15. If you have a running inspiration or mentor, who is it?

Any woman who runs pushing a stroller is my inspiration. I have run a few 5 Ks pushing my neighbors kid so she could race her husband and it was a real chore. I have run in combat boots carrying a full pack and had a better time! Another inspiration I have is a platoon sergeant I had in the Marines. He was fifteen years older than all of us, out of shape (for Marine Corps standards) and smoked like a chimney. Every Saturday morning he ran with us, chain smoked while he ran and out ran all of us.

16. What is your running mantra? (If your answer is "I have no mantra" or something lame like that, you must answer "Da do run, run, run. Da do run, run")

Just blanking run.

17. Are there any other runners in your family?

No. My son occasionally will go out with me, but nothing consistent.

18. Roads or trails?

I generally run on roads, but enjoy trail running. I'm super lazy about driving someplace to run, so I almost always start at my house and run the neighborhood and parks in the area. No real trails.

19. What's the funniest thing that has ever happened to you on a run?

I was traveling for work on the west coast and woke up at 4 AM because my body thought it was 7AM so I went for a run. It was my first time at this particular hotel and I didn't know the area well so I tried to do an easy route that I could get back to the hotel. I got completely lost and wound up turning a four mile planned run into a six miler. The sense of relief I had when I rounded the corner and finally saw the hotel was amazing.

20. What is your most memorable running moment?

I ran in a 5K with my son a few years ago that was a benefit for brain cancer with a group that was put together by a local family who lost their son to cancer. Knowing the incredible loss that they were dealing with and the fact that I was lucky enough to be running with my son that day was overwhelming. I'm funny that way. I can close my hand in the car door (see the reference above to losing my thumb nail) and not cry. Put me in a 5K with my son and I tear up like a baby.

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